Iran successfully tests domestic air defense missiles

Iran has successfully tested on Sunday two domestically built air defense missiles, Xinhua said citing Iranian army commander.

Mersad and Shahin missiles that were designed by Iran’s Defense Ministry had already been submitted to the country’s air defense system, the senior Iranian Army commander, General Farzad Esmaili told country’s official TV.

Esmaili said that Mersad air defense system was capable of hitting targets at the average and low altitude up to 150 km away. The general did not specify on Shahin characteristics.

In February the commander of the Iran’s Army of the Guardians of the Islamic Revolution, General Mohammad Ali Jafari said that Iran had started mass production of ballistic missile defense systems, armed with missiles with a speed three times more than the speed of sound.

In mid-April Iran tested a new anti-aircraft missile, Said 2 in the central Iranian city of Arak.

Iran Upgrades Missile Systems

Iran’s defense minister said his country has succeeded in upgrading and improving its moderate-range Mersad missile defense systems.

Brig. Gen. Ahmad Vahidi told the Fars News Agency the upgraded missile system is capable of destroying advanced airplanes in low and mid altitudes and has the ability to hit a number of targets simultaneously.

“The Mersad missile defense system is comprised of different target tracing and tracking radars, soft and hardware networks, launch pads for Shahin missiles and a command and control center,” Vahidi said.